Omar Infante, Royals capitalize on late Angels mistake to win 5-4

The Royals managed to escape a hellish homestand Sunday with a series victory thanks to a ninth-inning error by Los Angeles Angels second baseman Howie Kendrick. Shortly before Omar Infante won the game with a single to left, the deciding blow in a 5-4 victory, Kendrick failed to catch a throw at the bag which would have begun an inning-ending double play.

Omar Infante won Sunday’s game for the Royals with a single to left, the deciding blow in a 5-4 victory. Angels second baseman Howie Kendrick opened the door for Infante’s heroics when he failed to catch a throw at the bag which would have begun an inning-ending double play.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

The thought flashed in Ned Yost’s mind as the baseball rolled across the infield: “OK, that’s a double play.”

Moments before the last at-bat of a 5-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Yost considered the ripple effects of catcher Salvador Perez’s groundball, which was scooped by Los Angeles shortstop Erick Aybar. Yost had expended his finest relievers. His hitters had slumbered through the majority of the afternoon. A hellish homestand was headed into extra innings on its final day.

Then, a funny thing happened, the sort of occurrence this club had pined for these last nine games at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals caught a break. Second baseman Howie Kendrick dropped the throw.

The team did not wait long. Omar Infante singled to left score Alex Gordon. The Royals captured their first walkoff victory of the season, and basked in a result that allowed them to escape their own ballpark with peace of mind. The Royals managed three victories in nine games on during this stint at home, a skid that cost them their lead in the American League Central.

On Sunday, Lorenzo Cain tied a career-high with four hits, including three doubles, and helped his team capitalize on a fourth-inning meltdown from Los Angeles starter C.J. Wilson. Jeremy Guthrie coughed up a one-run lead by allowing his second solo home run of the game in the sixth. Betrayed by his defense in the early going, Guthrie still logged 62/3 solid innings.

“It was nice to win one of these, finally,” Guthrie said. “It feels like the whole homestand has been close games and late losses. So to get a late win is a huge boost.”

Sunday marked the middle point of the season. After 81 games, the Royals are three games above .500, and still treading water as they fly to Minneapolis for a nine-game road trip starting Monday. On the road, perhaps they can recapture the form that so captivated observers earlier this month.

On the morning of June 19, the Royals stood at the summit of the American League Central. They led the Detroit Tigers by a game and a half. They had won 10 in a row, drubbed Detroit in their own ballpark and announced themselves as contenders.

How quickly the tides turn, even if “it seems like a year ago we came home,” Yost said. As the Royals blundered at home, the Tigers stabilized. Detroit dashed to seven consecutive victories and reclaimed their lead. Inside his office on Sunday morning, Yost shrugged his shoulders at the reversal.

“It’s a long season,” Yost said. “You can’t get frustrated. I know you guys want to whip everybody up into a frenzy,” and here he slapped his hands across his face, and lightened the timbre of his voice, “and say ‘Oh, we’re so frustrated!’ No. It doesn’t work like that.”

For optimists, it was possible to pinpoint positives. The team received a pair of quality starts during the Seattle sweep. The club stood toe-to-toe during two losses with the Dodgers. During these nine games, Yost explained, his team lacked luck. They faced tough competition. They “haven’t caught breaks,” he said. The results did not correlate with the quality of their play.

“It’s not like we’re fumbling all over ourselves,” he said.

He spoke too soon. The initial performance on Sunday indicated otherwise. First, Guthrie surrendered a leadoff homer to Kole Calhoun. With a man on first, Aybar lifted a fly into right center.

From his position in the corner, Cain tracked the baseball and called off Jarrod Dyson in center. At the last moment, though, Dyson flashed in his vision. He backed off and let the ball fall. “Completely my fault,” Cain said. “I don’t know. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

A rare defensive misplay by Eric Hosmer led to another run in the third. But in the fourth inning, Wilson tossed them a lifeline in the form of an 84-mph slider. The pitch hit Salvador Perez in the foot. Infante doubled and a single by Danny Valencia granted the Royals their first run. Three batters later, Cain stroked of the day to tie the game.

The go-ahead run felt like anticlimax. Manager Mike Scioscia ordered Wilson to intentionally walk Billy Butler. The move backfired. No longer could Wilson locate the strike zone, and Gordon walked on four pitches to put the Royals ahead.

They would regret not sustaining their rush. Perez popped up to end the fourth. With two on and two out in the fifth, Alcides Escobar was picked off by reliever Cory Rasmus. The team could have used those extra runs, for in the sixth, Erick Aybar tied the game by parking a 2-0 fastball from Guthrie in the Angels bullpen.

As the innings continued, Yost strategized on how to break the deadlock. He used Kelvin Herrera to defuse a bases-loaded emergency in the seventh. Wade Davis and Greg Holland handled the next two frames. When Perez grounded the ball toward Aybar in the ninth, Yost worried about the Angels feasting on the softer underbelly of his team’s bullpen.

Instead, the Royals got lucky. Kendrick made a mistake. Infante came through. This brutal stretch at home was over.

Kansas City Royals' Omar Infante (14) celebrates with teammates after getting the game winning hit to score Alex Gordon in the bottom of the ninth inning for a 5-4 win over the Los Angeles Angels during Sunday's baseball game on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Jeremy Guthrie (11) throws during Sunday's baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Los Angeles Angels' Kole Calhoun (56) is congratulated by Mike Trout (27) after Calhoun hit a solo home run in the first inning during Sunday's baseball game against the Kansas City Royals on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Los Angeles Angels' Kole Calhoun (56) is congratulated after hitting a solo home run in the first inning during Sunday's baseball game against the Kansas City Royals on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas City Royals right fielder Lorenzo Cain (6) looses the ball against the sky on an RBI single by Los Angeles Angels' Erick Aybar in the first inning that scored Mike Trout during Sunday's baseball game on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Los Angeles Angels' Erick Aybar (2) dives back to first as the throw to Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer (35) doesn't get there in time after overrunning first on an RBI single by Aybar that scored Mike Trout during Sunday's baseball game on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout (27) is greeted by C.J. Cron (20) after scoring on a single by Erick Aybar in the first inning during Sunday's baseball game against the Kansas City Royals on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Jeremy Guthrie (11) throws in the first inning during Sunday's baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas City Royals right fielder Lorenzo Cain (6) runs down an out on Los Angeles Angels' Howie Kendrick to end the top of the first inning during Sunday's baseball game on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher C.J. Wilson (33) throws during Sunday's baseball game against the Kansas City Royals on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher C.J. Wilson (33) throws during Sunday's baseball game against the Kansas City Royals on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas City Royals' Danny Valencia (19) follows through on a double in the second inning during Sunday's baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Los Angeles Angels left fielder Josh Hamilton (32) misses a double by Kansas City Royals' Danny Valencia in the second inning during Sunday's baseball game on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas City Royals' Omar Infante (14) is called out by third base umpire Tim Welke after the throw to Los Angeles Angels third baseman David Freese (6) on a double by Danny Valencia in the second inning during Sunday's baseball game on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

After forcing Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout out at second Kansas City Royals second baseman Omar Infante (14) throws to first to complete the double play on Albert Pujols in the third inning during Sunday's baseball game on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. Trout was originally called safe, but Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost challenged the call and Trout was out on the review.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost (3) challenges a double play call in the third inning during Sunday's baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Los Angeles Angels' Josh Hamilton (32) follows through on an RBI double to score Kole Calhoun in the third inning during Sunday's baseball game on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Los Angeles Angels' Kole Calhoun (56) scores on a double by Josh Hamilton in the third inning during Sunday's baseball game against the Kansas City Royals on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Los Angeles Angels' Josh Hamilton (32) reaches second on an RBI double before the throw to Kansas City Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar (2) in the third inning during Sunday's baseball game on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez (13) grabs hit foot after getting hit there by a pitch in the fourth inning during Sunday's baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas City Royals' Omar Infante (14) connects on a double in the fourth inning during Sunday's baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas City Royals' Omar Infante (14) connects on a double in the fourth inning during Sunday's baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas City Royals' Danny Valencia (19) connects on an RBI single to score Salvador Perez in the fourth inning during Sunday's baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez (13) scores in front of Los Angeles Angels catcher Hank Conger (16) on a single by Danny Valencia in the fourth inning during Sunday's baseball game on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher C.J. Wilson (33) gets a visit from pitching coach Mike Butcher and catcher Hank Conger (16) in the fourth inning during Sunday's baseball game against the Kansas City Royals on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas City Royals' Lorenzo Cain (6) follows through on a two run double in the fourth inning during Sunday's baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas City Royals' Omar Infante (14) scores in front of Los Angeles Angels catcher Hank Conger (16) on a two run double by Lorenzo Cain in the fourth inning during Sunday's baseball game on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas City Royals' Danny Valencia (19) scores behind Los Angeles Angels catcher Hank Conger (16) on a two run double by Lorenzo Cain in the fourth inning during Sunday's baseball game on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas City Royals' Omar Infante (14) and Danny Valencia (19) greet each other after both scored on a double by Lorenzo Cain in the fourth inning during Sunday's baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas City Royals' Danny Valencia (19) is congratulated after scoring on a two run double by Lorenzo Cain in the fourth inning during Sunday's baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas City Royals' Omar Infante (14) is congratulated after scoring on a two run double by Lorenzo Cain in the fourth inning during Sunday's baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas City Royals designated hitter Billy Butler (16) is walked as Los Angeles Angels catcher Hank Conger (16) catches ball four in the fourth inning to load the bases during Sunday's baseball game on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas City Royals' Alex Gordon (4) heads to first on a bases loaded walk in the fourth inning to score Alcides Escobar during Sunday's baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas City Royals' Alcides Escobar (2) receives a pat on the head from Salvador Perez (13) after Escobar scored on a bases loaded walk of Alex Gordon in the fourth inning during Sunday's baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas City Royals' Omar Infante (14) celebrates with Jarrod Dyson (1) after getting the game winning hit to score Alex Gordon in the bottom of the ninth inning for a 5-4 win over the Los Angeles Angels during Sunday's baseball game on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas City Royals' Omar Infante (14) celebrates with Jarrod Dyson (1) after getting the game winning hit to score Alex Gordon in the bottom of the ninth inning for a 5-4 win over the Los Angeles Angels during Sunday's baseball game on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas City Royals' Omar Infante (14) lines up the game winning hit to score Alex Gordon in the ninth inning for a 5-4 win over the Los Angeles Angels during Sunday's baseball game on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez (13) connects on a grounder on a forced attempt to second and error on the catch by Los Angeles Angels' Howie Kendrick that allowed Alex Gordon to reach third and Salvador Perez to reach first in the ninth inning during Sunday's baseball game on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Los Angeles Angels second baseman Howie Kendrick (47) misses the throw to second for an error as Kansas City Royals' Alex Gordon (4) advances to third on a grounder by Salvador Perez in the ninth inning during Sunday's baseball game on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia assembles the entire team on the mound after an error in the ninth inning put Kansas City Royals' Alex Gordon and third and Salvador Perez at first with the game tied during Sunday's baseball game on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. The Royals went on to win, 5-4, on a single by Kansas City Royals' Omar Infante to score Alex Gordon.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas City Royals' Omar Infante (14) follows through on the game winning hit to score Alex Gordon in the ninth inning for a 5-4 win over the Los Angeles Angels during Sunday's baseball game on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas City Royals' Alex Gordon (4) scores the winning run as players rush out to congratulate Omar Infante for hitting the game winning hit in the ninth inning for a 5-4 win over the Los Angeles Angels during Sunday's baseball game on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez (13) hugs Omar Infante (14) after hitting the game winning hit to score Alex Gordon from third during Sunday's baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Wade Davis (17) throws in the eighth inning during Sunday's baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Greg Holland (56) throws in the ninth inning during Sunday's baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Greg Holland (56) throws in the ninth inning during Sunday's baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher David Carpenter (39) throws during Sunday's baseball game against the Kansas City Royals on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Home plate umpire Todd Tichenor directs Kansas City Royals' Alex Gordon (4) to go to first after being hit by a pitch from Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher David Carpenter in the ninth inning during Sunday's baseball game on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Cory Rasmus (46) tosses the ball to third on a rundown of Kansas City Royals' Alcides Escobar (2) to end the fifth inning during Sunday's baseball game on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Los Angeles Angels' Howie Kendrick (47) congratulates Erick Aybar (2) as Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (13) looks on after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning during Sunday's baseball game on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas City Royals' Lorenzo Cain (6) connects on a double in the sixth inning during Sunday's baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas City Royals' Lorenzo Cain (6) celebrates his double next to Los Angeles Angels shortstop Erick Aybar (2) in the sixth inning during Sunday's baseball game on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Willie the Wildcat looks over the shoulder of Kansas State Women's basketball coach Jeff Mittie before throwing out the first pitch before Sunday's baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and Los Angeles Angels on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas State Women's basketball coach Jeff Mittie throws out the first pitch before Sunday's baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and Los Angeles Angels on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas State Women's basketball coach Jeff Mittie throws out the first pitch before Sunday's baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and Los Angeles Angels on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas State Women's basketball coach Jeff Mittie hugs Kansas State defensive end Ryan Mueller after taking part in a first pitch ceremony before Sunday's baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and Los Angeles Angels on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Kansas City Royals mascot Sluggerrr and Kansas State University mascot Willie the Wildcat play rock, paper, scissors before the start of Sunday's baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

Young fans clamor in hopes of getting a baseball from Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer after warming up between innings during Sunday's baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

A Western Kingbird floats above Kauffman Stadium as the Kansas City Royals and Los Angeles Angels play during Sunday's baseball game on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

A Western Kingbird floats above Kauffman Stadium as the Kansas City Royals and Los Angeles Angels play during Sunday's baseball game on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star

A Western Kingbird floats above Kauffman Stadium as the Kansas City Royals and Los Angeles Angels play during Sunday's baseball game on June 29, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
JOHN SLEEZERThe Kansas City Star